Time-switch



D. H. DARRIN.

TIMESWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 1mm. 1912.

Patented July 13, 1920.

2 saints-skin 1.

D. H. DARRIN.

T'ME SWITCH.

APPuc-Mwu mm JAN. 31, 1917.

I "1,34 1 14, Patented July 13, 1920.

2 MEN'S-SHEET 2. Y

$1, alien x21 4- i UNITED STATES PA E T FI f DAVIDH.-DARRIN, or. MAYWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

TrMnswI'ToH.

To all whom it may concern a Be it known that 1, DAVID H DAmuN, a citizen of the United States, residing May wood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

- This invention relates to time switches for an electric current and resides particu larly in the provision of a time switch whereby use of the current will be prevented when the timing mechanism is not properly operative. 1 Y l l Time switche's are interposed in electric circuits where the current is to be cut off during certain periods of time. An electric time switch is commonly installed permitting current through a given meter only during certain hours of the day andshutting it off at other times as between live and twelve in the evening when the lighting load is heaviest. These time switches usually comprise a spring driven clock movement timing the operatioirof separate switch actuating mechanism to periodically open and closea switch in the circuit throwing the power onand'ofli at separated intervals; If the timing 'movement is permitted to run down or slow up while thepower is on, the openin of the circuit will be delayed or avoided and power can be used overtime.

The obj ect'of this invention is to prevent use oi the current unless the timing clock is properly wound up to' apredetermined degree to insure proper operation of the timing mechanism. By this invention use of power isprevented when the timing clock becomes run down. In order to use the cur-' rent, therefore, the timing means must be wound upand accurately effective to break the circuitat the correcttime; and the consumer cannot' 'by neglecting the winding of the clock obtain later current than he issupposed to ha've.- 1 V A further object of, the invention is to arrange the time switch to cooperate with other controlling means, such as automatic motor starters, so that the consumpt on cirwithout interfering with the'proper opera tion of the others and thecircuit will be protected against opening or closing at the wrong time. i I

Specification of Letters Patent.

" Patented July 13, 1920.

application filedlanuary 31, 1917. Serial No. 145,594.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a time switch constructed in accordance with this invention, and

f Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a power circuit embodying the invention.

' One specific embodiment of this invention comprising alti'me switch in combination with a pressure regulator and automatic starter is shown in the drawings, wherein the winding up of the main spring ofthe time switch closes a contact inthe starting circuit otherwise held open by an opposing spring until the tension of the main spring reaches a certain predeterminedamount.

1 represents a time switch comprising two trains of mechanism, one for actuating the switch 2 and the other for timing the switch actuating mechanism. The switch actuating mechanism comprises the power storing spiral spring 3 of the ordinary clock type acting through intermediate gearing l to turn gear 5 a quarter revolution and operate snap'switch 2 each time the actuating mechanism is released by the timing mechanism.

Switch bar 2 extends horizontally across ter- 7 gearing 4 at predetermined times to trip said gearing andpermit the spring 3 to drive switch gear 5 through one quarter a revolution moving switch 2 to opened or closed position as the case maybe. The timing, tripping and switch actuating means cooperate in the ordinary well known manner' and do not require further description.

"The position of the trips around the periph-' ery ofthe disk 12' determines the periods during which the switch 2 is closed to complete the circuit and allow use of the electric power. The remaining "part of the twentyfour hours the switch 2 is held open and the circuit broken so'that the power cannot .beused. It is apparentthat any number of trips as 13 and 1 1 can be used dividing each twenty-four hours into a plurality of oil and on intervals.

It is found that where these switches are installed there is a tendency on the part of the consumers to allow the timing mechanism to run down leaving the switch closed and the power on so that current can be used overtime. To prevent the possibility of the power being used during the wrong interval in this way, even it the timing move ment should run down with the switch 2 closed, an additional switch is provided normally held open and moved to closed posi tion to complete the circuit only when the main spring 10 of the timing mechanism is wound up to a predetermined tension. This additional switch mechanism comprises a bar 15 pivoted to the frame at 16 and normally held upward by a spring 17, the tension of which is adjust d by nut 18. The bar 15 carries switch 20 adapted to span contact terminals 21 and 22 when pressed downward against the tension of spring 17. These contact terminals 21 and 22 are placed in the circuit in position to interrupt the operation 01 the same unless the gap across them is bridged by switch 20. The switch bar 15 carries the pawl 23 engaging ratchet 24 on the shaft 25 of the main spring 10 of the timing mechanism. As the spring 10 is wound up it exerts a back pressure on the pawl 23 through ratchet 24 and presses the bar 15 downward against the tension of spring 17 to bring switch 20 into contact with terminals 21 and 22 to complete the circuit and allow use 01 power. So lon t3, therefore, as the main spring of the timing mechanism is wound up, the switch 20 will be maintained in position to complete the circuit, and the amount of winding of spring 10 necessary to keep the switch 20 against terminals 21 and 22 may be varied by adjusting the tension of spring 17 by nut 18. The necessary winding of spring 10 will be set at that fully snfiicient to keep the timing mechanism and its cscapement running accurately. By this means in order to use any power at all it is necessary to keep the main spring 01 the timing gears wound up to a predetermined degree sufficient to insure that the switch actuating mechanism will be tripped at the proper time.

It often happens that in the consuming circuit to which it is desired to apply the time switch there are other controlling means usually automatic in character, the operation of which would be impaired by the direct interposition of cont-acts 21 and 22 in the consuming circuit. In such circuits it is necessary to introduce the circuitv breakers 2 and 20 of the time switch in such a way as not to interfere with the desired operation of the other controlling means.

Fig. 2 of the drawings shows the time switch 1 applied in circuit with a pilot pressure regulator 29 and automatic starter 30 for a motor 31 forming the load, regulator 29 being shown in side elevation rather than in plan view as it would normally appear on the panel. The construction shown is intended to apply to a single phase automatic motor starter and pressure regulating controller for alternating current single phase. The automatic starter comprises a solenoid 32 acting to move a switch arm over rheostat 34 to start and stop the motor. The controller 30 is governed by pilot pressure regulator 29 which is actuated by variations in pressure in a tank supplied with fluid by a pump driven by motor 31. Regulater 29 comprises a lever carrying terminals 36 at its ends making contact with ter minal 38 when in one position and with terminal 37 when in another position. The lever 35 is normally pressed by spring to bring terminals 36 and 38 together, but is tipped by bellows 41 expanding at increasing pressure to tip thelever around its pivot 39 to move terminal 36 into engagement with terminal 37 at the same time breaking the circuit from terminal 38 which is adjustable to give close or wide regulation of the pressure in the reservoir.

The regulator 29 controls the current through solenoid 32 of the starter when the pressure falls below'the desired amount by bringing contacts 36 and 38 together. The current will then flow from supply terminal 74 through knife switch 75, wire 42, contact button 43, contact 44 and wire 45 to contact 22 of switch 20. l Vhen spring 10 of the winding movement is sufficiently wound, the current will cross from contact 22 to contact 21, wire 46, terminal 38 of the pressure regulat-or, wire 47 connected to contact 36 of the regulator, binding post 48 of the starting solenoid 32, binding post 49, and wire 50 to terminal 6 of snap switch 2. If the snap switch is closed the current will pass to its terminal 7 and through wire 51, resistance 52, wire 53, terminal 54, wire 55, knife switch 75 to supply terminal 56. As the resistance 52 is comparatively low the amount of current flowing through solenoid 32 will be suflicient to lift its core 57 and weight 58 turning lever around its pivot point 59 to bring the contact arm 60 carried thereby against contact button 43. During this movement the starter arm 33 remains substantially stationary in its upper position. A circuit is thereby set up from supply terminal 74through wire 42, contacts 43' and 60, brush 61 on starter arm 33, thence through resistance of the rheostat 34, wire 62, terminal 63, motor 31, terminal 54 and wire 55 to the other terminal 56 of the supply circuit. As the arm 33 is normally held in upper position by extension 76 of lever 65, tipping of this lever as above described will. leave the arm free to fall and start the motor. Downward movement of v the arm is retarded by dashp'ot 66 to which'it is connected, the length of time'allowed'for bringing themotor to full speed being pre-' ing post 18, solenoid 32, binding post 19,

wire 50, switch 2, wire 51, resistance 52, wire 53, terminal 54 and back by wire 55 to terminal 56 of the supply circuit. As the resistances 69 and 70 areof rather high value, the amount of current flowing through solenoid 32 will reduce to a safe and economical amount suitable for holding up weight 58 and maintain the starter in running position and no current will flow through wires 45 and 16 to contact 36. I

As the pressure in the reservoir and in the bellows &1 increases, contact 36 will leave contact 38 and move toward contact 37. lVhen the pressure reaches I the desired amount contact 36 will enga'gecontact 37 and produce a short circuit between terminals 48 and 4:9, thusdeenergizing the solenoid 32.

This will not, however,cause a short circuit on the line as the resistances 52, 69 and 7 0. will still be in circuit, the short circuitacross the solenoid being from terminal 48, through wire 47 to contact 36, thence to contact 37 through wire 72 to contact 49. V

, Upon deenergizing the solenoid 32, core 5? and weight 58'will fall carrying starting arm 33 and contact arm 60 to the position shown in Fig. 2 breaking the circuit through the 7 motor, reinserting the resistance of the rheostat 34c and the circuits will not be reestablished until the pressurein the bellows 11 decreases sufliciently to allow' contact 36 to engage with terminal 38, whereupon the above described operations will be repeated. I 7

During all of these operations the main" switch 2 of the time switch 1 is directly interposed to throw off the power when open, The auxiliary switch 20, of the time switch 1, is interposed only in the originalstarting circuit. hen this switch is open, therefore, it will only prevent starting up of the motor; its opening at any time during the running of the motor willhave no effect. The circuit breakers 2 and 20 of the time switch 1 have been so interposed in the power circuit asto cooperate with the other controlling mechanism in a manner insur ing proper operat on of all'the controllers. The timlng mechanism must be kept in properfoperationto. throw main switch 2 at the right time and stop entirely the con sumption of power. a

It is apparent that the timeswitch 1 and its switches 2 and 20 may be used in other circuit combinations and that where it is desirable to break a circuit, contacts 21 and 22 may bev openedand closed by a quick break movement. The invention is not confined tothe. specific embodiments shown and described, but is intended to cover such modifications thereof as fall within the W scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic timing device, the combination with timing mechanism, of a power storing spring for driving said timing mechanism, a movable controlling mem-' ber, means for transmitting the back pressure of said spring to said controlling member, and yielding means opposing said back pressure and moving said member against said pressure when said pressure de creases below a predetermined minimum.

2. In an automatic timing device, the combination with a switch adapted to be interposed in an electric circuit, of mechacomprising means exerting a'varying driving pressure on said actuating mechanism to operate it, means yieldingly holding said switch against said pressure, and a connection between said switch and said driving means transmitting'said varying driving 'pressure'to said switch member. so that the current in said electric circuit is controlled by the variations in said driving pressure.

3. In an automatic timing device, the combination with a switch adapted to be in- 'nism automatically actuating said switch, 7

terposed in an electric circuit, of mechanism automatically actuating said switch comprising means exerting a varying driving pressure on said actuating mechanism to operate it, a connection between said switch and saiddriving means transmitting said varying driving pressure to said switch member, means y'ieldi'ngly holding said switch against said pressure, and means for moving said switch upon predetermined a'ariation in said driving pressure, so that the current in saidv electric circuit 18 controlled by the varlations in said driving pressure.

4. In an automatic timing device, the combination with a main switch adapted to be interposed in an electric circuit, of

mechanism automatically actuating said switch, a driving means exerting varlable 3 driving pressure on said actuating mechanism, an auxiliary switch member, yielding means exerting a substantially constant pressure against said driving means, and a connection between said driving means and said auxiliary'switch member whereby the variations in said driving pressure control said auxiliary switch member.

5. In an automatic time switch, the combination with a main switch, of timing mechanism controlling the actuation of said switch, a driving means for said timing mechanism exerting pressure thereon, an auxiliary switch, yielding means exert ing a substantially constant pressure against said driving means, a connection transmitting the pressure of said driving means to said auxiliary switch and controlling the position of said auxiliary switch by variations in the pressure of said driving means.

6. lhe combination with a main switch adapted to be interposed in an electric circuit, of actuating means for said switch, timing mechanism for controlling the operation 01'. said actuating means, power storing driving means for operating said timing mecha nism, an auxiliary switch member, a connection transmitting pressure from said driving means to hold said auxiliary switch member in one position, and means for holding said switch member against said pressure and moving it when the pressure of said driving means decreases below a predetermined minimum.

DAVID H. DAR-BIN. 

